The Senators are making progress in contract discussions with college center Colin White, his agent, Kent Hughes, told Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch (Twitter link). The 20 year old was Ottawa’s first round pick (21st overall) back in 2015 and recently finished his second season at Boston College. It has been reported for a while that they would like White to turn pro although the disagreement stems from when the contract should start.
If White signs starting next season, he would only be eligible to play at the minor league level on an amateur tryout deal but the Sens would get the three full years on his entry level contract. However, if they were to sign him to a deal that started right away, he’d be eligible to play down the stretch and in the postseason. However, White would reach restricted free agency (and a bigger pay day) one year sooner, something the team didn’t seem to be too interested in as of a few days ago.
Other notes from the NCAA:
- With Union College being eliminated from the NCAA tournament, center Mike Vecchione is expected to draw plenty of interest. Among the teams that are high on signing him are the Flyers who are among the contenders to land him, reports Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The 24 year old senior tied for the lead in NCAA scoring, recording 63 points (29-34-63) in just 38 games. Vecchione has taken part in four different development camps over his career including ones with the Flyers and his hometown Bruins. Carchidi notes that the forward is close to signing and that his goal is to play in the NHL this season, meaning that whoever signs him would have to burn the first year of his entry level deal right away.
- Vecchione isn’t the only Union free agent that’s expected to generate interest. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that right winger Spencer Foo and defenseman Nick DeSimone will receive interest, including from several Canadian teams. Foo finished just one point behind Vecchione while DeSimone set new career bests in goals (nine) and points (19). Both players still have one year of college eligibility remaining so it’s not a guarantee that either will opt to turn pro.
If Vecchione wants to play in the NHL this season, I don’t see how the Flyers fit. They are pretty full at forward & have been scratching talented youngster Lbuyimov. The Bruins could possibly throw him into the lineup in place of the under-achieving Belesky.
Beleskey is a LW, Vecchione is center and a RH shot so if he were to play wing it would be RW. No room for him at C but RW they could sit Hayes slide Stafford over to LW where he has played some despite being a RW and if Stafford doesn’t re-sign with them he’d be a front runner for 3rd line RW next year. But I don’t know if they want to give up a year of his ELC for a handful of games this year.